Chapter 66

Li Xian, or rather, the Brilliant Starlight Group, faced its first major difficulty. The traditional array formation was once again restricting the group's development due to its instability during movement.

If it couldn't move, then the means of transportation would be nothing but a mirage, and Li Xian's industrial plans would stagnate.

But Li Xian was still somewhat unwilling, "In the past, wasn't the sky full of flying immortal artifacts? Those artifacts also moved, and they moved much faster!"

Tang Rong shook his head, "All the spiritual power for magical artifacts and treasures is provided by the cultivators themselves. Even in cultivation, we still need to sit quietly and face the five directions.

Looking at all cultivation practices, beasts need to quietly absorb the essence of the sun and moon, and we also need to meditate and face the five directions.

As long as it involves absorbing spiritual energy from the outside, whether it's a spirit-gathering array or cultivation, it requires 'quietness' and harmony with the yin and yang of heaven and earth.

In addition, there are some large-scale war artifacts, but they also require spirit stones to provide spiritual energy."

Xu Ren then spoke, "Even if Young Master wants to re-study and modify the array, it's not feasible. That would require opening up a new cultivation path, something only a sage has the right to do.

For now, let's focus on the research of spirit stones. In comparison, studying spirit stones is more reliable."

Xu Ren's words blocked off Li Xian's last bit of hope. After a long moment of stunned silence, he finally sighed, "Then let's study the spirit stones."

Tang Rong carefully said, "Young Master, we don't have enough spirit stones."

It's not just that they don't have enough; after the last exchange with the sea clan, there hasn't been another exchange. Subsequent transactions were small, mainly focused on sea soul silk—minerals were just a side item, not included.

"Next time we trade with the sea clan, we'll exchange for more spirit stones!" Li Xian gritted his teeth. No matter how expensive, they had to exchange! They couldn't afford not to!

Coincidentally, the day after testing the motorcycle, Wei Zhe came again to discuss the trade.

"50 million pounds of stainless steel weapons! All in trident shapes, 360 tridents!" Wei Zhe blurted out a number that shocked everyone.

Fang Shijing quickly did the calculations, "Last time, it took us 50 days to complete 1 million pounds of weapons. For 50 million pounds, it would take 2500 days. Considering various possible issues over a long period, it's estimated to take about 2700 days, or seven and a half years.

Additionally, according to our agreement, 50 million pounds of stainless steel will be exchanged for 10,000 pounds of sea soul silk and 1 billion pounds of minerals."

Wei Zhe frowned slightly, "The sea soul silk and minerals are fine. But the time... that would take eight years! No, it must be completed within one year!"

Fang Shijing turned to look at Li Xian. Li Xian shook his head decisively, "Even if we use all our current production capacity to make your weapons, it would still take four years.

Moreover, Senior Wei, there's something you need to explain. The quality of the sea soul silk in the last two transactions has declined. Our product quality is improving, but yours is declining. We need an explanation."

Wei Zhe was very firm, "Sea soul silk is not an industrial product; it's naturally produced and can't be exactly the same every time."

"Alright, we'll consider it." The tactic of delay was always the most effective, and Li Xian was very familiar with it.

Hearing that the sea clan wanted it completed within a year, Li Xian knew they were in a hurry! If they were in a hurry and still refused to soften, then everyone would just drag it out! After all, the wire problem was already solved, so Li Xian wasn't in a rush anymore.

Now, the sea soul silk Li Xian traded with the sea clan was mainly used to control the engine market; but without sea soul silk, Li Xian could also sell mystic iron wires—of course, the mystic iron wires Li Xian currently used had a 95% impurity content, which would cause some trouble, but not too much.

Hearing that Li Xian would "consider" it, Wei Zhe's heart sank. After hesitating for a moment, he finally gritted his teeth and said, "In future transactions, half spirit stones and half sea soul silk, with the quality of the sea soul silk as it was the first time. For the past few transactions, I will compensate with 3 spirit stones."

Li Xian smiled, "Alright, we guarantee completion within four years."

"Within one year! It must be completed within one year!" Wei Zhe didn't back down. At this point, Wei Zhe knew he had messed up—reaching out with a bamboo pole for others to hit, but there was no other way.

Li Xian looked at Xu Ren, then at Beichen Yuqing, and finally at Fang Shijing, tapping the table and thinking: The sea clan must have promised something to someone, which is why they are in a hurry; but this matter can't be pushed too hard, or both sides would suffer.

The factory's production capacity was indeed tight. Fifty million pounds of stainless steel, all to be forged into tridents, would require tripling the mining output, doubling the smelting plant area, and doubling the related machinery; most importantly, the workforce needed to be expanded!

If done well, it could double the factory's size in a short time; but the pressure was indeed too great! After all, they had just completed the bidding and agency matters, and the agency products also needed to be guaranteed, as they had all sworn to it.

Beside him, Xu Ren, Beichen Yuqing, and Fang Shijing were also calculating. After a while, the four of them exchanged glances and reached a consensus.

Li Xian stood up, "Senior Wei, please allow us to discuss this. Compressing four years into one is indeed very tight, and we need to discuss it; give us an hour."

"Alright." Wei Zhe was already sweating, already calculating how much he would have to pay—anyway, in this situation, he had to pay.

After the four of them went to the back office, everyone looked at Li Xian. After all, Li Xian was the "lord," and he needed to set the tone.

Li Xian thought for a moment, "The trade should still proceed. I'm not just interested in the resources in the sea, but also in the sea's navigational capabilities. So, if possible, we should try not to offend the sea clan.

But not offending them doesn't mean they can be easily talked to or bullied! So, this time we will try our best to complete the trade; but the costs incurred will be accurately calculated, and the sea clan will have to pay. If the sea clan is unwilling to pay, then this trade will be canceled."

"This method is good." Xu Ren and the others nodded in agreement, thinking Li Xian was quite fair. Of course, if this were on Earth, Li Xian would be cursed to death—expanding your own factory and making others pay the cost, such a thing shouldn't exist; but now, everyone praised Li Xian as "fair"—a good person.

With the plan set, the four of them roughly estimated the costs and came out, not even taking a moment.

Wei Zhe looked at them with some concern.

"Senior Wei, we discussed it. If we are to produce 50 million pounds of stainless steel within a year, we must expand the factory, increase the workforce, and delay other production, which will incur an additional cost of about 150,000 to 180,000 taels of gold.

If you are willing to pay this cost, I, Li Xian, swear to the heavens that by this time next year, you will see 360 flawless tridents before you."

"Only gold?" Wei Zhe was stunned, not because the price was high, but because it was cheap—gold, for the Dragon Palace, was like floor tiles.

Indeed, Li Xian was quite benevolent, not asking for any other conditions. Paying only gold, for the Dragon Palace, was not much different from paying minerals. After all, whether gold or minerals, they were mundane things, of no benefit to cultivation.

Seeing Li Xian nod again, Wei Zhe smiled, "Young Master Li, great kindness needs no thanks. In no more than 10 days, I will deliver 200,000 taels of gold!"

The matter was thus happily decided.

50,000 pounds of sea soul silk, 5,000 spirit stones, and 1 billion pounds of minerals—1 million tons of minerals—plus 200,000 taels of gold, Li Xian was so happy he almost lost his soul.

To show gratitude and to prevent a shortage of mineral resources, Wei Zhe even promised that, besides the gold, which would be delivered within 10 days, the remaining minerals, sea soul silk, and spirit stones would be delivered within a month.